Goose Island Green Line

July 07, 2010|By Jerald O'Kennard, Special to Tribune Newspapers

What it is: Looking for a good way to reduce your carbon footprint? How about going green with the Green Line? Not the CTA train, but the Goose Island Green Line. This draft-only American pale ale is the Chicago craft brewery's liquid manifestation of its new initiative to reduce its carbon footprint by improving efficiencies in production, keeping distribution local and glass-free with reusable kegs and donating some of the profits to conservation efforts. Besides being a great idea for a beer, it is a great-tasting beer, one of the best Goose Island has ever made.

What's in the bottle: Deep old gold color. Enticing aromas of fresh-out-of-the-oven baguette with a dollop of salted butter, quince jam and lightly grassy hops follow through on a plush, frothy entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium to full body. Superb balance, creamy smoothness and whispers of dried fruits. Finishes with a long, toasty citrus and honeydew melon-kissed flourish. Amazingly fresh, flavorful and drinkable.